Freedom Project Update — From Civil Rights Past to Present
November 18, 2008

[Photographer unknown] My name is Charles McLaurin. In 1963, I served as the director of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee's (SNCC) Freedom Summer Project in Sunflower County (that's me in 1963 in the picture on the left). Today, I still live in Sunflower County and am a proud supporter of the Sunflower County Freedom Project (that's me volunteering with the Freedom Project in the picture below).

The Freedom Project is the living legacy of the work that I and other veterans of the Civil Rights Movement began more than 35 years ago. Back then, we worked to set up Freedom Schools to provide educational and leadership opportunities to blacks living in the Delta. The Freedom Schools served as extensions of SNCC's community organizing efforts. They provided learning and leadership opportunities not available to the black community.

[Photographer unknown] Indeed, the public schools were open only four months out of the year, and they were poorly equipped to provide the all-inclusive education young people needed. That's why Sunflower County needed the Freedom Summer Project then. The same holds true today.

I am honored to see that the Freedom Project continues the work that I and others from the Civil Rights movement started so long ago. The Freedom Project embraces the core concepts that providing a good education and building leadership skills are essential to cultivating leaders and ensuring a better quality of life for young people living in rural poverty. The Freedom Project utilizes the experiences of the Civil Rights movement to inspire and motivate young people in Sunflower County to see the value in developing the skills necessary to fill the educational and leadership positions needed in a global economy.

I have watched the Freedom Project grow over the past 10 years. And I've seen its kids flourish. Perhaps most impressively, it has found favor and support with a broad segment of the Sunflower County community.

More and more parents are looking for the type of educational exposure and enrichment opportunities that the Freedom Project offers young people. The Freedom Project needs the continued support of folks like you to make sure it can continue to provide the one-of-a-kind experiences that its students deserve. So friends and supporters, I leave you with an old SNCC saying: "Remember, Freedom is EDUCATION. Education isn't FREE."

The Freedom Project provides unique learning and leadership opportunities for students in the Mississippi Delta. Building on the rich history and first-hand experiences of local heroes such as Charles McLaurin, we focus our students on understanding the importance of their success to the community.

To all of our supporters, thank you and know that your donation is helping us develop our students into smart, dedicated, thoughtful leaders. If you'd still like to help us continue our important work, you can make a tax-deductible donation securely online by clicking Here.
Or by sending a check to:

Sunflower County Freedom Project
P.O. Box 701
Sunflower, MS 38778

Thank you for being part of the Freedom Project Family!

Sunflower County Freedom Project

Copyright © 2008
Last Modified: November 18, 2008.
Webspinner: webmaster@crmvet.org
(Labor donated)